Vocational Assessment and Expert Witness

Data

Mary and Brian are divorcing. Although Brian has been the primary wage earner for many years, Mary has worked part time in a bank since the kids got older. Bob thinks it will be easy for Mary to step into a much higher paying management job. Mary doesn’t think so. Mary’s attorney needs a Vocational Professional who can evaluate her skills/employability, potential earning capacity, and those areas of the job market that would be a good and likely fit for her. Since this information will be an important part of any financial settlement, it’s possible that a decision will have to be made by a judge based on the Vocational Professional’s testimony and report.

Data

Tim’s shoulders were injured in an auto accident 6 months ago. His wages are being paid by an insurance policy until he can go back to work. It’s possible that the injuries will prevent Tim from going back to his old job which required a lot of upper body strength and mobility. While the insurance company retails medical professionals to assess his ability to work at something physically, a Vocational Professional is needed to identify what the work might be, what compensation might be possible, and where the jobs are.

Insight

Mary has worked part time as a bank teller for several years.

This is an occupation which, along with branches, are being phased out or substantially reduced over time and being replaced by technologies and online access.

Her teller experience is fine in terms of customer interaction but it does not automatically serve as a launching pad to employment elsewhere in the bank.

Mary needs time to identify a target group of jobs and to obtain skills and expertise training in order to be more employable at a higher income rate.

Insight

Tim’s injuries, according to the medical report, will prevent him from jobs that require hand and arm motion including a computer keyboard.

As a part of his field work in his old job at customer locations, Tim sold and installed/performed additional products/services which would substantially enhance the value and performance of the equipment already at the customer site.

It is possible, given the necessary product technical training, that Tim could be effective in a sales or service call center where his phone equipment could be configured with voice commands so he would be required to make a minimum or hand motions.

It is likely his income could be approximately the same as in his old job before the injuries.

Action

The professional Vocational Expert

1. conducted interviews with the people to be assessed

2. conducted specific testing as part of the assessment

3. researched the job market

4. specified specific jobs and compensation levels which were possible

5. captured 1-4 in a written report

6. in once case, the legal action went to trial and the Vocational Expert appeared in front of the judge to discuss and explain; in the other case a settlement was reached and a court appearance was not necessary